By the way, if anyone wants to sponsor me for the Surfer’s Environmental Alliance 2009 SEA Paddle for clean oceans and autism awareness, shoot me a pm.It's a 28 mile paddle around NYC and will be my second year doing it. Product donations are also welcome for our live auction. If you have any questions, just ask.Here is a link to the website.http://www.seapaddlenyc.org/Here is a link to a video of last year's event. I'm in a few of the shots.http://www.fuel.tv/TheDailyHabit/videos/view/9126

I mostly surf New Jersey. My parents live in Lavallette (that's where most of my boards are) and my brother lives up in Rumson, so I can surf whenever I visit them. It's kind of a pain to get to any coast from where I live, so I usually go and do a long weekend with them. I grew up in NJ, and missing the shore is the hardest thing for me.I'd be up for meeting up anywhere for a surf trip some time.I can't wait until you don't have to wear gloves or booties.

Go to shops around you and look and talk to a bunch a few and see what they say. Longboard are the easiest to learn on and prob should to learn how to catch a waves. Then if you want a faster board. I would go with a fish(5'10-6'2) but a longer one but smaller than a funboard(6'7-8'0). Yes it is smart to buy a used board.

Finally got to paddle out for my first 09 session on Saturday. I got to enjoy knee to chest high clean surf with beautiful weather and water warm enough to not wear a wetsuit, in Jersey. Took the Piranha out and had a blast.

just surfed this am one cove over from this link, clean but small http://www.sigward.com-9'0" SF surf shop performance longboard, picking it up today!!!-5'5" pod tri fin (custom judah- local shaper at buddy's surf shop "proof lab" check them out if in the bay)-6'1" short board (forget brand)-5'10" strive fish

Probably 9 out of ten people I've tried to teach to surf hated it because they weren't willing to put the time into figuring out positioning on the board how to effectively paddle duck-dive etc etc, so they ended up getting worked the whole time. So in all honesty, if you only have a couple days, IMO you shouldn't bother. You wanna ride waves grab a sponge, it's a lot easier to learn in a couple days. You can still have a lot of fun in the shorepound with a sponge, and you don't have to drink half the ocean.

a longer/wider board is more stable. This will allow you to paddle and maybe even stand up with less chance of tipping over.

position yourself on your stomach wherever you feel most balanced. The nose shouldn't be sticking up too far in the air, nor should the tail.

there is no "easy" button for standing up on a surfboard. You need to have tight stomach muscles before even getting in the water, so you can just pop up in one quick motion. Before your trip, do a couple of weeks of training that includes sit-ups and push-ups

NOOB RULE #1 DO NOT TRY AND SURF NEAR OTHER PEOPLE UNTIL YOU CAN CONTROL YOUR BOARD. Until you can control your board you have a 6-12ft fiberglass rocket that can do some pretty serious damage. If you ever meet me I can show you a few different scars 2 pretty notable ones on my forehead, from surfboards. You will also more times than not be in the way. This pisses people off, it's not like snowboarding where people will just laugh a little and go around you. If you can't get out of people in the lineups way, you take a very real chance of getting your a$$ kicked. Localism isn't cool, but it is real.

Ears,

positioning is different on every board, and also depends on your size. In general you want to try and position yourself in the middle maybe a little more towards the nose, if the nose of your board is way up in the air, you're too far back.

There is no "easy way" to standup. The best way to do it is to put your hands flat on the deck and "pop" up once you start pushing down no part of your body should touch the board until your feet hit, your knees should be bent and your feet should be pretty far apart when you first stand, keep your center of gravity low and use your hips and shoulders to turn.

A shorter board is absolutely not easier to learn on, longboards are easier to paddle into waves and much more stable.

A thermos keeps hot stuff hot, and cold stuff cold.....BUT HOW DOES IT KNOW???

I would recommend lessons if you want to try surfing. Most of the surf schools down here have the wetsuit and board, etc included in the lesson price so if you find that surfing isn't for you, you didn't spend too much buying a board. Also with the lesson, they take you to places that are less crowded, suited to your ability level, and the vibe of the place is more mellow. Plus I think other surfers avoid these areas because there are noobs in the water.

I wouldn't just go to any place and try to surf without some sort of instruction. That would be dangerous for you and to others in the water. Just my two cents.

Got out this weekend, again in NJ. Really fun Saturday morning. Some nice clean waves with some good power to them, head high on set. Surfed in a spring suit. For a while near low it was really sucking the bottom out on some of the bigger waves. I cracked a rail on my leg on my last ride of the day, but it was easily repaired with some sun cure. It got a lot colder on Sunday and I had to put on a full suit. The waves were much smaller, chest high on set, but at least I got out there. Surfed the Lost Fish both days. Great weather both days. Tons of fun.

Finally got to paddle out for my first 09 session on Saturday. I got to enjoy knee to chest high clean surf with beautiful weather and water warm enough to not wear a wetsuit, in Jersey. Took the Piranha out and had a blast.

Perfect day man. I'm going out on the North Shore on Oahu today to see if I can grab my first wave.

...Finally got to paddle out for my first 09 session on Saturday. I got to enjoy knee to chest high clean surf with beautiful weather and water warm enough to not wear a wetsuit, in Jersey. Took the Piranha out and had a blast.

I had a nice longboard 9'0" and that was such a fun board. I wish I still had it but I have a 8'0" now which I don't like as much but the 9'0". But I sold it for what I paid $300 and used it for a few months.

...Finally got to paddle out for my first 09 session on Saturday. I got to enjoy knee to chest high clean surf with beautiful weather and water warm enough to not wear a wetsuit, in Jersey. Took the Piranha out and had a blast.

im in a city right next to the beach but i cant surf
cuz its a pepple beach. and the water is ridiculously cold.

pebble beaches can be very good, especially at point breaks...however, Brighton's "wave window" is extremely small

your good waves are going to very rare - on a huge, perfectly angled south groundswell

...however, local windswells are going to be your staple. Just find a sheltered spot that will block the wind. Brighton marina is said to be one of your better spots

there's also a few other spots within a short driving distance - they're going to be a little sloppy, but it's better than nothing. Oh and, believe it or not, you'll get used to the cold and brown water...I've been surfing in the same for years

I actually think you're missing out on something really fun that's right in your backyard - If I were you, I'd buy a wetsuit and a longboard and get on it

im in a city right next to the beach but i cant surf
cuz its a pepple beach. and the water is ridiculously cold.

pebble beaches can be very good, especially at point breaks...however, Brighton's "wave window" is extremely small

your best waves are going to probably be on that rare, huge, perfectly angled south groundswell

...however, local windswells are going to be your staple. Just find a sheltered spot that will block the wind. Brighton marina is said to be one of your better spots

there's also a few other spots within a short driving distance - they're going to be a little sloppy, but it's better than nothing.

I actually think you're missing out on something really fun that's right in your backyard - If I were you, I'd buy a wetsuit and a longboard and get on it

A longboard is key to have in your quiver, especially if you live in a place with "no waves." It was one of the best investments I ever made. You can just sit on the outside and catch rides on waves that would be unridable in most cases. People shred Lake Michigan with longboards.

I realize the water is relatively cold and murky brown, but you do get used to it pretty quick (I've been riding in the same for years). Those conditions can be intimidating at first, but just wait for some other people to paddle out first and then join them.

VR, I hope you and any of the other surfing New Englanders on here are getting out today, or at least sometime this weekend. Wave Cam looked pretty EPIC (for a summer swell) this morning. Meanwhile I can barely stand on solid ground right now due to an ear infuction. If I get some semblance of balance back by Sunday, I'll probably make it out somewhere in RI. PM me if your interested in meeting up.

A thermos keeps hot stuff hot, and cold stuff cold.....BUT HOW DOES IT KNOW???

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